Speaking to ANF regarding the draft constitution and the role of women in Syria, Mûna Yûsif, spokesperson for the Syrian Women’s Council, stated that the constitution imposed by the transitional administration in Damascus represents a political continuation of the Ba'ath regime.

Referring to the eight-article Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, and the interim president of the Damascus government, Ahmed al-Shaara, Yûsif said: “This agreement is truly historic in itself. As the Syrian Women’s Council, we believe that this agreement is a positive step, but we also think that certain measures need to be taken. The most important example is the absence of any guarantee for women’s participation in future political processes, especially in the committees that will be tasked with drafting the new Syrian constitution.”

The transitional constitution does not represent us

Yûsif stated that the new draft constitution, instead of overcoming the one-man mentality after a long struggle, unfortunately fails to surpass the previous one and falls short of expectations. “During this process, the role of women has been ignored, and the importance of Syria’s diverse components has not been adequately emphasized. The national identity of the Syrian people can only be built through the participation of all communities and religious groups in the country. Therefore, the provisions to be included in the new constitution must be rewritten and revised in line with the true demands of the Syrian people.”

All powers concentrated in one hand

Yûsif pointed out that the draft constitution grants full authority to Ahmed al-Shaara and continued: “Despite the significant contributions of women to the Syrian revolution and to the broader history of Syria, their position has been disregarded. The constitution claims to derive some of its principles from Islam, but true Islam does not give men the right to dominate women. When we say that the Syrian transitional constitution must be aligned with the will of the Syrian people—including all sects and faiths—we mean that the rights of all citizens must be guaranteed without discrimination. And that certainly does not mean concentrating decision-making power in the hands of a single authority. The new Syrian constitution has become a political continuation of the Ba'ath regime, preventing the people of Syria from participating in the decisions that will shape the future of a new Syria.”

Women in North and East Syria

Mûna Yûsif emphasized that during the Syrian revolution, women were subjected to grave violations such as rape, displacement, murder, and human trafficking, all while struggling to claim their rights. “The time has come for women to reclaim their rights. Syrian women must be the ones to write their own constitution,” said Yûsif and underlined that a woman’s role in society cannot be limited to the family.  Pointing to the remarkable achievements of women in North and East Syria, she noted that women have strengthened their presence in political, military, and social spheres.

Women must reject all obstacles

Yûsif stressed the need for women to unite their ranks, collaborate with women’s rights organizations both inside and outside the country, and apply pressure on the international community. She said, “Women must reject the obstacles to their political participation in political processes, demand their rights, and protect the gains they have achieved through the revolution.”

Transitional constitution is rejected

Yûsif recalled that since 2017, the Syrian Women’s Council has been working to bring together women from all segments of Syrian society and to share the experiences of women in North and East Syria across the country. Reaffirming their rejection of the draft constitution, she stated: “We demand that the constitution be amended and that the role of women in the reconstruction of Syria not be ignored. We want women to take the lead in building a new and democratic Syria.”

Mûna Yûsif also emphasized the continued commitment of the Syrian Women’s Council to ensuring the protection of women’s rights and their participation in political processes.